NCAA mulls 146 proposals from coaches

GRAPEVINE, Texas – While most of the proposals from basketball coaches seeking more access to players and prospects will get further consideration from the NCAA, they are a long way from gaining final approval.

“The details are in place,” NCAA Division I vice president David Berst said Sunday. “Work has to be done in trust-gap issues. That is the impediment we need to overcome.”

Berst said coaches still have to convince many administrators and faculty that the purpose of their proposals is to have more mentoring opportunities with players, and isn’t just a way to gain more practice time.

The 44 proposals from the National Association of Basketball Coaches and the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association were among 146 for various sports considered Sunday by the NCAA Division I Management Council.

The council gave initial approval to making permanent a 12th football game each season for Division I and I-AA teams, something that couldn’t take effect before the 2006 season. There was little discussion of that issue.

Schools are now allowed 12th games only in seasons when there are 14 Saturdays between Labor Day weekend and the last weekend in November. The 2003 season qualified for additional games, but the next won’t come until 2008.